PAGE 4A: WINTER SPORTS 2016 PRESS & DAKOTAN ? VERMILLION PLAIN TALK Bowling: Young Yankton Squad Off To Strong Start Victories in their first two matches is a great way to start the season for the The 2016-17 Yankton club young Yankton squad. The team is composed of four bowling season is off and running and things are off to freshman and two seventh graders. a good start. “We are very young team, The boys’ team kicked but we have some really off the season by defeating talented bowlers,” said coach both Vermillion and Sioux Falls O’Gorman in its first two King. “I look forward to watching them progress.” matches. With such a young team, “It was a great way to start King is excited about the the season by beating those two teams,” said head coach future of the team. “They are only going to Patrick King. “They have had keep getting better with more some outstanding bowlers.” BY BEN HEGGE sports@yankton.net experience,” said King. “They are really going to shine a light on Yankton bowling.” The focus around the team revolves around improvement. “We want to be as competitive as possible and be successful, but our main focus is on improvement,” said King. “We are focused on improving and the results will come.” The girls’ team is composed of six bowlers, and while the may not field the full team of six, they are led by some talented bowlers. Senior Carly Turner and freshman Bailey Wieseler are two of the top bowlers on the team. “Although we don’t field a full team, gaining quality experience and bowling in competition is important,” said King. “We hope to keep building numbers as the years go by.” Both teams and their members are striving to compete in the South Dakota State Bowling Tournament on Feb. 24. Kyle Schmidt is one of three seniors for the Bucks entering the 2016-17 season. Ryan Lucht and Josh Rowell also return for their senior seasons for Yankton. Wrestling: Bucks Feature New Faces, Young Squad Cody Vornhagen (120 pounds) and Jordan Lucht sports@yankton.net (170 pounds) each finished sixth in the Class A tournaEDITOR’S NOTE: This article originally appeared in the ment last February. Spencer Huber fell to Pierre’s Jebben Dec. 3 edition of the Press & Dakotan. It has been updated Keyes in the first place match at 132 pounds. to reflect the ongoing season. Bashir Abd-Al-Kreem and Jamee Brugmann were the The Yankton Bucks wrestling program graduated other two seniors who qualified last season. While Cole all three of its placewinners from the 2015-16 season, the Diedrichsen also qualified for state as a sophomore first under Riley Smith. But Smith, himself a former Buck, and is the only wrestler on knows that is just part of the the Bucks’ roster with sate experience. process. Part of the reason for “I think that it has left a this team to win comes from spot to fill, we have our 14 varsity wrestlers and 27 total, the attitude that Smith has towards his wrestlers. He they are all hungry to make pushes them to better theman impact this season,” said selves and has no problem Smith, whose team opened jumping in to show them how the season in Watertown on he wants things done. WhethDec. 3. BY ROGELIO RODRIGUEZ er it be on the mat showing them proper technique or in conditioning running alongside his wrestlers. “Those are often things that assistant coaches do, things I did as an assistant coach, I’m more of a hands on kind of person and I think it’s just easier to show them and build that muscle memory” said Smith, “as far as conditioning, no one wants to be passed by a older bald guy on a sprint,” he added jokingly. Having lost seven seniors, whom Smith had worked with in his time as an assistant, it will be a new look team with only three seniors this year. Those three, Ryan Lucht, Josh Rowell, and Kyle While bowling may not be the most popular of the winter sports, King and his athletes are very fortunate for the support they’ve received from the community. “This is the fourth year of the program and we have had great support from the Yankton City Bowling Association and the league bowlers,” said King. “It has been a joy to coach such great kids.” Follow @bigheadbenny13 on Twitter. YHS 11/11 11/18 12/1 12/9 1/6 1/13 1/20 1/27 2/3 2/10 2/17 2/24 Club HS Bowling vs. Vermillion vs. O’Gorman at S.F. Roosevelt at Canton at Brandon (Empire Bowl) at Brookings vs. Harrisburg vs. S.F. Washington at West Central (Sport Bowl) at S.F. Lincoln (Suburban Lanes) vs. Dell Rapids State (Eastway Bowl-Sioux Falls) All Matches Begin At 4 p.m. Eighth grader Matthew Mors is the only returning player who saw action in all 23 games a season ago. YHS Boys FROM PAGE 3A YANKTON Boys’ Basketball 12/13 at Brookings 12/15 vs. Harrisburg 12/17 at Brandon Valley 12/20 vs. S.F. Washington 12/22 at Mitchell 1/6 vs. Pierre 1/7 vs. Aberdeen Central 1/10 vs. S.F. Lincoln 1/14 vs. Watertown 1/17 vs. S.F. O’Gorman 1/21 at Huron 1/24 vs. Brookings 1/27 at Harrisburg 1/31 at S.F. Roosevelt 2/3 at Aberdeen Central 2/7 vs. Brandon Valley 2/11 at Pierre 2/14 vs. Huron 2/18 at Watertown 2/21 vs. Mitchell 2/25 Dist. 2AA Play-In 2/28 District 2AA 3/3 District 2AA 3/7 Region 1AA 3/16-18 State AA (Rapid City) 8 p.m. 8 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m. 8 p.m. 8 p.m. 5 p.m. 7 p.m. 6 p.m. 8 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. TBD Matthew Mors (8th, 7.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and Rex Ryken (So., 6.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg) will also be critical to Yankton’s season. Wrestling (0-4) 12/3 Watertown Dual Tourn. Last season as a seventh Milbank (L 18-65) grader, Mors — who stands Huron (L 12-72) 6-foot-6 — played in every Aberdeen (L 6-72) Mitchell (L 30-48) game, while Ryken played 12/6 at S.F. Washington/vs. Lennox/ in 13 games. And while yes, S.F. Lincoln * 12/8 at Dakota Valley/vs. Vermillion/ they’re young on paper, Brandon Valley *. they’re not exactly inexperi12/17 S.F. Washington Tourn. 9 a.m. enced, according to Haynes. 1/7 Brandon Valley Tourn. 9 a.m. 1/9 vs. Brookings/Roosevelt 5 p.m. “We don’t see them that 1/13 at Brandon Valley/vs. way,” Haynes said. “We don’t Aberdeen Central 5 p.m. 1/14 Harrisburg Inv. 10 a.m. look at Matthew and think 1/17 at Watertown 7 p.m. eighth grader, or look at Rex 1/24 at Huron 6 p.m. and think sophomore. 1/27 vs. Pierre 6 p.m. 1/28 Brookings Inv. 9 a.m. “They’ve played enough 1/31 at Harrisburg/vs. Mitchell 5 p.m. that we treat them as expe2/4 Yankton Inv. 9 a.m. As far as who assumes 2/11 Harrisburg Inv. 10 a.m. rienced players,” the coach the point guard duties (to 2/16-17 Region 2A (Yankton) 5/6 p.m. added. “They’ve been there; 2/24-25 State (Sioux Falls) 10 a.m. replace Tanner Frick, now at they’ve done that.” the University of Sioux Falls), * - Occurred After Press Deadline And that leads to a trust Haynes said Wolfgram will factor with the older players, handle most of those responYHS WR | PAGE 5A according to Wolfgram. sibilities — but a number of “They all know what others can handle the ball, they’re doing, and they want the coach added. This could help the to do well,” said Wolfgram, The combination of Gazelles create more offense who played in every game Frick and Bradey Sorenson out of their defense to counlast season. “I think that’ll (another senior from last ter the 2-3 zone defenses they FROM PAGE 3A help us.” season) combined to average often saw their opponents Yankton also picked up a 24 points and eight rebounds us to slow down the 6-foot-4 transfer who could eventuBailey Kortan and Emily Osa game, so that leaves quite a Sayler. ally join the varsity ranks. wald and sophomores Jessica void for the Bucks to fill. “We expect our kids to Nathen Abuin, a 6-foot-4 Reinhardt and Maddy HochBut for now? play hard,” Krier said. “They junior from Miami, Florida, stein. Also getting a chance “I’m not sure how many are an athletic bunch that will need some time to adjust games we’re going to win or to compete for playing time can play up-tempo. We will to the program, according to how things will shake out, will be juniors Holly Hicks, likely have a balanced scorHaynes. Anna Savey, and Aurora but it’s a fun group to coach,” ing attack, but we are going “It’s a matter of learning Papstein, as well as a pair of Haynes said. to need to defend.” the system; he’s behind in freshmen in Madison WuebYankton opens its season The main keys for Yankton that aspect,” Haynes said. ben and Payton Wolfgram. Dec. 13 at Brookings, but it’ll to reach their goal will be to “It’ll be a matter of taking “They need to go up-tembe the month of January that play full-court defense for 32 some time to work through po as long as they can,” Krier minutes—while staying out will be particularly key for some kinks.” said. “It’s nice to have that the Bucks. They play seven of of foul trouble—and cutting Which is also true with depth and can be tough with down on the amount of turntheir nine games that month the entire team. a limited number of bodies.” overs they’ve had in the past at the YHS gym. “We have a lot of good In their season ending loss two seasons. Where things shake out afYankton’s Madason Tessier, left, tries to make a steal from players, we just have to get to Brandon Valley, they had ter that month will determine “We would like to have her knees. everyone in sync,” Stephenjust six players play big min- this team see some success how the Bucks progress, son said. utes. With this year’s depth according to Haynes. in the win and loss columns,” Yankton also has Ben they can run more up-tempo. “We could see hopefully Krier said. “That may be Brookings on Dec. 13. Jurrens (Jr.), Owen Feser taking that next step, but it’ll tough to do with our district (So.), Andrew LaBarge (Jr.) be a team that will have to being as strong as it is.” Follow @michaelhamand Mac Heinrich (Jr.) on its who had coached at the improve as we go,” he said. The Gazelles will open mond_ on Twitter. varsity roster to start the middle school level. Former their up-tempo attack at season. Washington head coach Amy Follow @jhoeck on Twitter Shander joined the staff, and FROM PAGE 3A former Minnesota prep gymnast Kaiti Porter took over practice time is organized, the middle school program. noted senior Kaitlin Guth“We have a lot of moving miller. pieces, and it seems like a “When you get to practice, lot of changes,” he said. “The you know what will be going 407 Walnut St. girls have responded to the on,” she said. coaching staff very well, and The Gazelles return every I wouldn’t expect anything gymnast from a season ago, less.” Open including three seniors with five years of varsity experi7 Days A Week Follow @JCimburek on ence and two other seniors. Twitter. 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